New Free tools for pcb milling

[kn6za]

Hello All,

I have been milling pcbs at home for about 3years now, and have developed a tool that I think works really well. I call this one a spade mill, it has a 60deg point angle and can mill a path in copper clad to .01 thou of an inch with no problems. Made of micrograin carbide it holds up very well, and I think I can produce these for less than what is now available to the hobby pcb millers out there.

I am interested to know if any of you have used tools that look like this before.

If you have not, and would like to try one, let me know off list at kn6za@hotmail.com and I will send you a FREE one to try out. I just ask that you provide me with some feedback on how it worked for you, relative to what you used before.

I have a very limited supply to hand out for free so first come first serve.


Thanks,
Andrew Abken
DrewTronics

[kn6za]

I have been asked a few questions about these tools, so I will try to answer them for everyone.

The tools are made from 1/8 inch carbide blanks.

I run the tools at 10000 rpm. I would love to run faster but that is the limit on my machine. I know they work well as low as 7500 rpm. The faster you can spin this tool the faster you can feed it. 50000 rpm would be great, perhaps somone will be able to try this.

I will be charging 6.50 + shipping and handling if the trial period gets a good response.


Thanks
Andrew Abken
DrewTronics

[Fifty_ohm]

I tried one of Andrew's bits (which he graciously sent to me for free to try it out) and this thing cuts so much better than anything else I've tried. The pcb engraver bits which are cone shaped with half of it cut off don't even come close to making the cut these bits do. I didn't even have to clean up the board after milling with this bit. I've run it at 30k rpm at 20ipm and it makes a very clean burr free cut (this was a .01" depth of cut). I'll post some pics up when I get my camera working again. I've milled a couple of boards and the bit still looks and cuts like it was new. I'll be able to give some idea of tool life when it starts to get dull but that doesn't look to be anytime soon.

Thanks again Andrew. I'll be ordering a few of these to have on hand.

[Driller]

I too tried one and I can agree that the finish is good. The cuts did not leave any raised sections. be carefule when you open the package. open it over a soft surface, a towel or something.

and, believe your eyes. no sense in poking your finger to prove it has a sharp point.

Dave

[zoltan]

Hi,

I got the cutter from Andrew. Thank you. Early in the morning I gave it a trial. It works GREAT. I would be interested also in other shapes of cutter for engraving. At this ratio of price/quality it would be great.

Zoltan

[kn6za]

Thanks for all the good reports. Glad to hear they are working so well.

I can make other shapes and sizes of cutters, so email me (kn6za@hotmail.com) with the specifics of the tools you are looking for, and I will see what I can do for you.
I can't make helical flute endmill tools, I dont have the equipment for that.

I set up some better photos at flicker.com check it out.
www.flickr.com/photos/16019611@N00/

[Halfnutz]

Excellent cutter. Great price. Thanks for the trial, how do I order more?

It works great for engraving as well...

[kn6za]

Halfnutz,

Glad to hear you are having such good results.

Send me an email with the quantity you need, and I will let you know what the current pricing is.

I have been taking Paypal, or checks as payment.

thanks,
Andrew Abken
kn6za@hotmail.com

[pminmo]

I agree, this bit cuts really nice and clean!

[kn6za]

Thanks to all who provided feedback on the PCB trace isolation cutting tools I have been selling. I am glad to hear they are working so well for people.

I am no longer offering free samples.

I am making them available for $7.50 each + $4.00 s/h
or $5.00 each + $4.00 s/h in quantities of 10 or more

Contact me at kn6za@hotmail.com

Thanks again,

[zoltan]

Hi,

I have bought from Andrew several types of cutters for engraving. I have no words to describe the quality of these cutters. I have brand name cutters but are not so good as Andrew's are. The service is almost perfect. The price of cutters is a small fraction of brand name cutters. It was a pleasure to do business with Andrew.

Zoltan

[BoBas]

Hello,

There are also peaple of the Netherlands very happy with the tool of Andrew.
I'm trying to make my first PCB on my machine, but I think I use the wrong tools. I have send Andrew an email for a sample.

Thanks for your help
Bas (Netherlands)